2006-Annual Town Report - Laserfiche WebLink

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Work was also begun on an update of the Town's of Appeals on Chapter 40B developments, with much Open Space Conservation and Recreation Plan for of the Department's time spent on two large industrial adoption by the Conservation Commission and certifi- projects and modification requests topreviously cation by the Mass.Division of Conservation Services. approved projects. The Plan should be completed in early 2007. Having a certified plan will re-qualify the Town for state Self- October Town Meeting saw ten zoning articles Help and Urban Self-Help, as well as federal Land & approved, all prepared by the Town Planner on behalf Water Conservation Fund 52% grants for open space of the Planning Board. Included were two articles purchases and development of outdoor recreation increasing "grandfathering" protection for certain facilities. older building lots, upgrades to the stormwater man- agement and water quality report by-laws, by-laws Certification of the Plan will also boost the allowing animal day care facilities in industrial areas Town's score under the state's Commonwealth Capital and limited assembly of scientific instruments in com- program, which rates towns across the state on pro- mercial zones, an article providing for flexibility in � moting liveable communities, zoning for compact minimum required perimeter buffers for non-residen- development, expanding housing opportunities, con- tial developments, an article enhancing Planning serving natural resources, protecting water resources Board authority regarding signage for special permit and sustaining agriculture and forestry. We are proud projects and an article requiring an FAA "no hazard" to report that the town's first Commonwealth Capital determination for structures over 40 feet in height. application, prepared by the Department for FY2006, received the third highest score on the Cape and The major zoning change was a total rewrite of ranked 36th in the state, a significant achievement for our cluster zoning by-law, making cluster subdivision a small town in a non-urban area. The Town's score mandatory in most cases, specifying the cluster design on the application counts towards 30%of rating points process, increasing the minimum open space required received on grant applications submitted by the Town from 35% to 50%, allowing agricultural uses within under most state grant programs and puts us in a good the required open space, providing almost total Plexi- competitive position against other towns for grants. bility of sizes and dimensional requirements for clus- ter building lots, requiring provision for affordable During 2006 we also began working on an housing in larger subdivisions, allowing density update to the Town's Local Comprehensive Plan, orig- bonuses for additional open space and affordable inally adopted in 1998. Comments and recommenda- housing, and otherwise updating or clarifying portions tions regarding the existing plan were solicited of the cluster subdivision by-law. We are proud to say through the Town Manager's office. Work has begun that the Town received one of eight 2006 on draft updates of the Affordable Housing element by Commonwealth of Massachusetts Smart Growth Tom Mayo, on the Open Space element by Tom Awards for the by-law, picked up on December 1 by Fudala and on the Human Services element by the Town Planner and Harvey Cohen of the Planning Charlotte Garron, our Administrative Assistant. Board at the 2006 Massachusetts Smart Growth Completion of those, and work on the other dozen ele- Conference in Worcester. ments of the Plan, should constitute a major part of the Department's work schedule over the next two years. In addition to assisting the Planning Board with permit reviews and other tasks, the Department under- We also continued to maintain a Town lands takes other assignments from the Board of Selectmen database and provided our annual housing, land use or Town Manager, assists other boards, committees and population estimates and projections. We contin- and departments with their activities and responds to ued to work with the Town Clerk Fire Department and frequent requests from developers, appraisers, attor- Postmaster in developing new addressing systems to neys, landowners and the general public for informa- enhance public safety response times in condominium tion and assistance. The Town Planner has also pro- projects and multi-tenant commercial projects. The vided staff assistance and advice to the EDIC and the Department also provided the Town Manager and Selectmen's Blue Ribbon Comprehensive Committee. Selectmen with a major report on all the Town's tax- taking lands, with recommendations for their disposi- During 2006, Town Planner Tom Fudala served tion. on the Plan Review Committee, Mashpee National Wildlife Refuge Management Committee, APCC As staff to the Planning Board, the Department Cape Cod Business Roundtable, the County was involved in the review and permitting of a number Wastewater Implementation Committee, Technical of subdivision and commercial development projects Advisory Committee and EPA Watershed Grant during the year, along with input to the Zoning Board Working Group, the DEP Popponesset Bay Pilot 115